Chapter 71 Chapter Seventy One
My b*dy went rigid and blood drained from my face.
“I will text her the hospital address, Mark said then the line went dead.
“Oh God,” sensing the urgency of the situation, Lucas quickly rolled off me and I jumped out of bed. “Lucas, I need to get there quickly.” I didn’t bother to search for the clothes we had blindly flung across the room. I ran straight to my wardrobe and reached for the first outfit I saw dress shirt.
–
a
I reached for my underwear and strapped it on. My hands trembled as I struggled with the buttons of the shirt. Lucas was suddenly before me. He gently and wordlessly took the shirt from me, undid the buttons and put the shirt over my head and did the button. I just stood there and let him dress me up.
fa
Even though Doris was not my biological grandma, even though she was the grandma of a mant I once loathed, she still meant so much to me. Grandma Doris is one of the few people that treated me well. She was the one who gave me an inkling of how it felt to have a mother. She had been nothing short of good since she met me. I don’t think I could bear it if anything happened to her.
Her condition must really be serious for her to have asked to see me.
As I put on my fl*p–flops, ready to dash out of the house, Lucas‘ hold on my arm stopped me. “Let me come with you.”
“I’ll wait for you in the car, I told him and rushed out.
We went with Lucas‘ car. Thank God there was no traffic; within minutes, Lucas was pulling before the hospital entrance. He urged me in while he went to find a parking spot
I ran inside and told them who I was there to see. “Doris Torres.
The man shook his head and didn’t even bother to check. “She is in VIP room 012. The VIP rooms are by your right.”
“Thank you,” I muttered and as I turned to find the ward room, Lucas caught up with me.
He held πιγ hand and we both located the room together. In no time, we found the room. Mark was waiting by the door. His eyes settled on us, then it dropped to our joined hands and his face hardened. And then he was shooting daggers at my n*eck.
I ignored his glowering look and ran to him. “She’s in, right?”
He nodded and said in a cl*pped tone, “She’s waiting for you.”
I started to go in, Lucas‘ hand still clutching around mine. Mark stopped us, placing a firm palm on Lucas‘ ch*st .
“Grandma only asked to see her.” He raised his brows “not you.”
“Mark-”
I started but Lucas let go of my hand and nodded inside, “Go in. I’ll wait here.”
I hesitated but he gave me another assuring nod.
The moment we pushed the door open and stepped into the room, Grandma Doris‘ face was turned to the other side and she slowly turned her head to face me.
My heart broke at the sight before me. Grandma Doris looked gaunt and pale as she laid there with her usual resolute expression. My eyes watered as I smiled at the expression on her face. No matter how bad things get, Grandma never shows any sign of weakness.
It wasn’t until Grandma flashed me a smile and beckoned on me with her hands that I realized that I was frozen in the middle of the room and my cheeks were moist with my y own tears.
I ran to her bedside and took her frail hands in mine; they clutched mine strongly and squeezed my hand reassuringly. That gesture alone made me feel a little bit at ease. Though I couldn’t stop the hot tears that rolled down my face, I was assured that she would be fine. Doris is strong and
Chapter 71 Chapter Seventy One
she’d be fine.
I sniffed, “I’m here,” I whispered in such a low voice that I could barely hear myself but Grandma
did.
Her smile widened and her grasp on my hand tightened, “There, there, no more crying”
My voice clogged in my throat and I had to take a few deep breaths before I could let any word out, “Grandma, you have to get better.”
I felt pain shoot through my heart when she just smiled and said, “You’d be fine, Sydney, you’re strong
I shook my head. I tightened my hold on her hand and quickly loosened it, scared that I might be causing her more pain. “You will be fine. You will get out of this hospital bed, hale and hearty” She regarded me for a while, I could see her eyes gleam like I had never seen before. Then she nodded, “Okay.” She looked away from me and gazed up at the ceiling.
Tve known about my cancer for a while now,” she started solemnly, “I was told how long I had left then I was given a bunch of medication. Now that would have been enough but they started to list things I could eat and couldn’t, activities I could participate in and couldn’t… that was where I drew the line. She paused and scoffed before she continued again. “I couldn’t just sit my ass in a hospital room with damn VIP treatments and prettily prepare for death to come for me. I hadn’t lived my life preparing for death, I made it clear to the doctor that I wouldn’t end my life that way. So I made the doctor discharge me. I went back home, packed my bags and begrudgingly included a bunch of the medications I was prescribed and left the country. Then I started to travel around the world.” There was a smile on her face now. It was like she was reliving those days. Her voice was filled with so much strength and vigor and liveliness. If anyone heard her and didn’t see her state on the bed, they’d argue till their death that there was no way a woman that sounded so alive was this sick. “I threw caution into the air and lived my life, Sydney. I enjoyed different meals and wine. I visited places. I met people, beautiful people, good and amazing humans. I spent my last years enjoying life to the fullest.” Her smile dimmed. and she turned to me, I think that was when all the burden and responsibility fell on my sweet boy’s shoulders. Without his father and me around, Mark had to shoulder everything and solidly keep the business in the family.” She paused and her eyes searched mine. “I do not have much time left which is why I have called for you.”
I am here now, Grandma, I sobbed.
“Thank you,” she whispered and closed her eyes for a few seconds and I could tell that she was in pain. She was in so much pain, she just didn’t want us to see it
She stroked my hair and held my gaze. There was a sad and regretful smile on her l*ps, “You know, I always hoped you and Mark would stay inarried for long…forever. But unfortunately, he didn’t cherish you. He doesn’t deserve you so I am not going to plead with you to get back with him but I do beg you to always be there for him.” I was Ted to tell her that even if I am there for him, Mark was too proud to show any weakness and accept my help but she shushed me. “I understand that Mark cair be very overbearing and, might I say, standoffish but believe me when I say, he cares and he needs someone to care for him too. Our family may seem large, after I’m gone, Mark will be all alone. His mother, as you know, is superficial and ignorant, and other family members are eyeing his position, he is the only one he can rely on when I’m
gone so I’m not asking you to get back together, but I’m begging you let him be able to rely on someone else other than himself. She grasped my hand even more strongly and I could tell how much she cared for Mark and wanted his well being even after she was gone. “After I’m dead, please, do not betray him when he needs someone. Be the last person he can always rely on or
run to.”
I swallowed, processing everything as Doris would want me to. I was sure this plea and request. wasn’t just for Mark. She didn’t want the Torres name to go into oblivion. She didn’t have to spell it all out, I knew that she was subtly pleading that I do not betray Mark by selling off my five percent shares at least not to outsiders.
When I divorced Mark, I had sworn to never have anything to do with him but today we’re business partners and he is an investor in my company. He literally saved Luxe Vogue from crashing. He might act like a cruel asshole but he wasn’t really an asshole. Besides, with Doris.
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alive, u should have known that I will somehow be forever tied to my ex–husband. It was a fate I could not escape no matter how much I tried.
My gaze settled back on Doris and I found her watching me, her eyes subtly pleading. I made up my mind. I would be there for her grandson. I would be there for him the way she had always
been there for me.
I cleaned the tears on my face and said definitely, “I promise you, Grandma. I will not betray
Mark
The corners of her l*ps tipped up and there was a flicker of relief on her face. “Thank you, Sydney. Her gaze flickered to the door and then settled back on me. “Call Mark in.”
I poked my head outside the door. Mark and Lucas looked like they were having a staredown. I shook my head, already thinking about how to make the two men that will forever be in my life get along.
“Mark,” I called and both of them snapped their gaze to me and stood up at the same time. It smiled at Lucas who looked worriedly at me, “Doris wants you in.” Lucas and I exchanged a nod then I went back in.
In a few seconds, Mark was by my side beside Grandma. She grabbed his hand and cradled it in hers as if he was still a little boy. Then she scowled at him, “After I’m gone, you better not bully Sydney or I’d come back from the pit of hell to settle scores with
you.
Grandma wanted to make Mark smile. He did, his l*ps pulling back in a tight smile I’m sure it was just for her not to worry because the sad expression on his face remained. “Okay. Is there anything else you would like me to do? Come on, I’d grant all of your wishes.” Grandma smiled at Mark’s attempt to cheer her up. Her voice was getting lower and weaker but her gaze still held that authority of a family matriarch she had always had. “I’d say it’s an order
Td though, she smirked, then her expression turned serious and she held Mark’s gaze. “I want your to get engaged to Mia, soon.”
I looked at Mark and his gaze met mine. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking before he looked away. Then he quietly muttered, “I- I will, Grandma.”
